The Knight in the Tiger’s Skin is an epic poem by the Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli, written in the 12th century. The poem, in all its complexity, depicts the era of Georgian feudalism known as “patronkmoba” (patronage). The main and ideal heroes of the poem—Tari’el and Avtandil—are types of devoted and respectful “kma,” the vassals: selfless servants of their patron, educated and dignified deep-thinking courtiers, brave and self-sacrificing knights. Wise, thoughtful, yet concise, the winged Rustaveli aphorisms have penetrated the broad masses of the people, turning into folk sayings—into folk wisdom (not only in Georgian). These aphorisms, expressed in the form of lyrical digressions, epistolary addresses, are far from moralizing maxims. They enliven the narrative, dynamize the verse, and emphasize the monumentality of the work. In terms of architecture and composition, “The Knight in the Tiger’s Skin” stands as one of the grand examples of world literature.